title: A determination of the HDO/H2O ratio in comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp).
abstract: Deuterated water (HDO) was detected in comet C/1995 O1 (Hale-Bopp) with the use of the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope on Mauna Kea, Hawaii. The inferred D/H ratio in Hale-Bopp's water is (3.3 +/- 0.8) x 10(-4). This result is consistent with in situ measurements of comet P/Halley and the value found in C/1996 B2 (Hyakutake). This D/H ratio, higher than that in terrestrial water and more than 10 times the value for protosolar H2, implies that comets cannot be the only source for the oceans on Earth.
authors.affiliation: University of Hawaii, Institute for Astronomy, 2680 Woodlawn Drive, Honolulu, HI 96822, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Meier
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Owen
authors.forename: H E
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Matthews
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Jewitt
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Bockelée-Morvan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Biver
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Crovisier
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gautier
mesh_terms: D017666:Deuterium Oxide / Q000032:analysis*; D007053:Ice; D019110:Meteoroids; D013696:Temperature; D014867:Water / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D007053:Ice; D014867:Water; D017666:Deuterium Oxide